Thursday, June 11, 2009

Just a Man

Darrell received his sentence today and was led away in handcuffs. I look at this picture and I see just a man. Not a Pastor or any other label - just a man that has been broken by sin. I wonder what happened in his life that led him down this path of destruction. Surely there is a reason beyond his obvious sin, a path was chosen and along the way a compromise was made. I am anxious to see what he may allow God to do from this point on with his life.

133 comments:

char
said...

As I look at this photo of Darrell Gilyard in handcuffs, I am moved with compassion. It's rather strange this emotion; But, I hope that he will repent for what he has done if he hasn't already and persue an intimate relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ. By this I mean no disrespect to any of the victims. My heart goes out to all involved and I pray for a miraculous healing for everyone (especially the trail of victims).

I have always believed that DG's problems stem from his loss of a mother at an early age and his rearing by a non-relative. While that family may have done an excellent job, he wanted his mother. When she never showed and never made contact, he became bitter and developed a genuine dislike and disrespect for women. Add to that his sexual issues and you have a sexual deviant. Sprinkle in high intellect and a desire to make lots of money to escape the life in which you've been placed and you have a sexual deviant who becomes a minister. His "past" could have fueled a positive life- bad beginnings are not an excuse for bad lives. However, his SIN nature was the greatest motivator in his life.I, too, feel sorry for him, he was my pastor for many years. However, we can now only pray that he will repent and TRULY give his life to the Lord.Unfortunately, he could just come out of this with more scams and a better story to preach. We, as Christians, must be vigilant and stay prayerful.

According to what I heard him say, his mother left him at Mother Mary's doorstep supposedly to come back for him and she never did. But, that's no excuse. God takes the place of those who forsake us. Though I can understand that this may have had some negative affect on him. But God can change a heart (totally).

You know what, I think he was an infant. Therefore he would have had to be told what had happened to him. And the lady (Ms. Mary) who raised him was very loving and kind who also gave him a descent upbringing.

I disagree with your theory that the loss of his mother at a young age and his upbringing by a relative was part of his issue. I'm quite sure that there are MANY of his past church members who grew up under the same, similar, or worse circumstances and didn't end up a sexual deviate because of it.

This part I do agree with - "Sprinkle in high intellect and a desire to make lots of money to escape the life in which you've been placed and you have a sexual deviant who becomes a minister."

I was deeply moved by his somber look walking down the halls of the courthouse with chains on his wrist and feet. I pray that God uses this season to bring Gilyard to a place of repentance. I pray for his physical protection as well as the health of his emotional and mental health. I pray for his soul. If it wasn't for the grace of God it could be me facing these same charges. We do not condone the sin but we pray for the sinner. May he hear what God has to say during this season in his life.

I guess I don't share the sentiments of hopes for Darrell Gilyard that you do.

This is a man who did have multiple upon multiple chances to stop sexually abusing women and girls in his churches.

He was granted 2nd and 3rd and 4th chances by leaders in the SBC, by leaders in his own church...and he STILL kept doing what he was doing.

This is not a man who had a momentary lapse of judgment. This is a dangerous man, more dangerous than perhaps even a serial murderer. We might more easily spot a murderer as he has a weapon he uses to kill people. This guy didn't use a physical weapon to destroy lives, he used the title of "preacher" and "God's man" and sayings like "Jesus loves you and so do I" in order to fulfill his sick desires. He is a man who has literally DESTROYED the lives of girls and women and their families.

He is dangerous, and my only wish for Darrell is that he got more time than 3 years, because it is very likely, in my opinion, that there are future Gilyard victims that will be preyed upon after he is released. I wish it were not so, but it is very possible.

My other hope is that someday we will have laws that more severely punish men like Gilyard who use God's name and the name of Jesus Christ to prey on unsuspecting sheep.

FBC Jax Watchdog said... I could hear the violins playing softly as I read your post, Toni.

I guess I don't share the sentiments of hopes for Darrell Gilyard that you do.------------

I appreciate your comments but you missed the point of the post. I'm not saying he does not deserve to be punished in any form. I am speaking from the other side of man, which is compassion towards the sinner although we hate the sin.

He led a lot of people to Christ and yes he is paying the price as he should. That's not what my post is about.

Jacob was a deceiver but God used him.

Moses was a murderer but God used him.

Jonah was disobedient but God still used him.

I haven't read anywhere the time period of which a person can sin is greater by the lenght of time they sin: Is it 2 weeks, 90 days, 20 yrs?

I did not say I prayed for his ministry. I pray for his soul which we are called to do as believers when a brother falls down. I have not read anywhere in the bible where we are asked to stone someone to death. Gilyard is being dealt with legally and spiritually. I am not in a position to gloat over his broken spirit.

Sorry you have no compassion to pray for his soul. Separate the sin from the sinner enough to have compassion.

Just think how you felt when you were attacked recently and how you felt some should have stood up for you as a brother in the kingdom, but yet those people stoned you. I prayed for you, FBC and those who were affected.

To Toni - While I can understand your heart of compassion on a terribly lost soul--and you're right, we should pray for all lost souls--I am inclined to agree with FBC Jax Watchdog on this one.

DG had more opportunity than most to clean up his act. He is a dangerous man who should never be trusted again around women or children. He should NEVER be allowed in the ministry again. As a matter of fact, one way to tell if he has truly repented in the future would be to see if, in fact, he tries to get back in the ministry. If he tries to preach again, that's a sure sign he has NOT repented. If he truly repents, then he will realize he can never be in church leadership again. And any church that would accept him in any leadership role is absolutely foolish.

Toni I have to agree with Watchdog. Darrell is not just a man who made mistakes;Darrell is a man who is just plain evil. We all as Christians still sin; But sometimes there are people who claim to be Christians that are plain evil;And Darrell falls into the latter.We all need to understand that some people are just plain evil[Hitler,Jerrey Dalmer,Charles Manson,Ted Bundy,etc].You have absolutley no idea the amount of damage this man has committed over the last 22+ years. Though I do agree with you Toni that we should pray for him.

The theme of my post was to pray for his soul. Nothing more. It seems when someone posts here, it is dissected and torn apart. I never said he did not have opportunity. I said PRAY for his soul. NEVER did I mention what he did I know very well what he did.

Ask yourself if you were having a conversation with Jesus would you tell him these things? The answer is of course you would, as we are not God and our thoughts are not His. So I agree but the point I was trying to make is to pray. He has already been convicted in the legal system and God has the rest. Praise God he is off the streets. Now I will say for the final time we need to pray. Nothing more or less. If this is not the right place to ask for prayer then I will find a place that does not mind praying for a lost soul.

If this is a place to ask for prayer then pray for all who have unforgiveness in their hearts and taking on the role of judge and jury on other people's heart.

Then read Psalms 5:5 (Yes, it says what it means and means what it says. YOu have been sold a pig in a poke when it comes to the Character of God. God says more than once that He 'hated Esau')

Then read all of 1 John but focus on chapter 5.

See, Darrell KNEW the truth and willfully and consistently sinned anyway. He professed something HE KNEW he did not possess.

If the truth of the FULL Gospel was preached in churches, Gilyard would not last a day in any church and you would not have made that comment. Because you would know better. Gilyard profaned the Name of our Lord with his position as teacher/preacher and his behavior. He is a liar and a pervert. Read about them in Revelation 21.

Gilyard is not just a 'gentile or tax collector', he is someone who professes to follow Christ. He USED Christ to satisfy his lusts.

Read the book of Jude. And see what it says about guys like Gilyard. Scary stuff.

Can he become truly saved? Yes. IF, IF, there is true repentance but that would take a long time to know if it is real. And after that, he would STILL not be qualified to be an elder. An elder must be above reproach to the 'outside'.

"If this is a place to ask for prayer then pray for all who have unforgiveness in their hearts and taking on the role of judge and jury on other people's heart."

Toni, you need to study forgiveness in depth in the NT. You have little understanding of it. Did you know that we are not forgiven by God UNLESS we truly repent? And it is not a one time deal. We are growing in Holiness which means constant repentance.

We do not have to judge people's hearts. We are told to judge fruit. That includes not only teaching but behavior.

Gilyard is nto just some pervert in the pew who got caught. He was using his influence as an elder to pimp for himself. Great cover.

And there are a lot of leaders who protected him who are just as bad.

If I were you, I would pray a lot for those he led astray. But it seems that folks are always worried about the pervert and not the victims. And not just sexual perversion victims but all those folks he shepherded for all those years. What a mess.

"Ask yourself if you were having a conversation with Jesus would you tell him these things?"

Toni, Jesus told US these things in His Word. And guess what? Many who protected Gilyard ignored the Word and even the civil authorities in dealing with Gilyard for a long time. We should all be repenting for allowing him to operate for so long!

Get in there and study the Word! He is coming back for a pure Bride. This is serious business. I am not sure you understand forgiveness at all. Forgiving Darrell is not going to save him. He KNOWS the truth.

Forgiveness for the victim is withholding the right to seek vengence. It does not always mean fellowship, empathy or even reconciliation. Those things are reserved for true repentance.

If the Holy Spirit decides to grant him true repentance, he would be so bowled over with grief it would be quite obvious over time for the sins he committed against young woman. What, one of them was 14?

Prison might be just the thing that saves Darrell. Then again, it might just be another ruse if he becomes big preacherman in prison.

"If the Holy Spirit decides to grant him true repentance, he would be so bowled over with grief it would be quite obvious over time for the sins he committed against young woman. What, one of them was 14?

Prison might be just the thing that saves Darrell. Then again, it might just be another ruse if he becomes big preacherman in prison.

He is a con man. You have been conned."

June 14, 2009 11:09 PM

Anon I agree with you 100%! If Darrell was truly repentent it would have been evident! Most people that have this greater sympathy for Darrell than they have for the victims have "NO IDEA" how deviant Darrell is! Only if you have been around him on a consistant bases will you really get to see his character. Most people like Toni who seem overly sympathetic to Darrell "don't really know him,they only go by the persona he presents on TV or in a brief encounter! This guy is one the most deviant people I have ever meet!A really,really bad guy. When will people ever understand that there are just some people who are simple evil;and Darrell is one of them.

It has been noted here that Gilyard's wife has filed for divorce. Humm.... I wonder if this is one of his many schemes. Maybe this is a way to get everything that he has left in his wife's name in the hope that he will have something left over when he gets out of prison? One would have to wonder if his wife is helping him out in this way. After all she does like material things and wealth. No offense to her, but she was engaged when seeking premarital counseling from Gilyard. That's how they ended up together in the first place. The only thing is...if it is true that she's helping him, he will have to trust that she will be there with his stuff when he is a free man. Wonder how it feels to him having to depend on someone else to provide the money for him and I hope it's not to continue on the same path as before he was jailed. Tenise, if this is true, I hope that you fear God more than Darrell. I hope that you're reading this blog. Now you can. The master manipulator is gone for now. You are free! Do the right thing.

If Tenise would help DG in any way, after the way he used, abused, mistreated and cheated her, her parents need to committ her and have her head examined!

I get the impression DG is looking forward to being single again; he didn't want to get married in the first place. When he gets out DG will get his money, wherever he may have it hidden and go somewhere and start a new life with a whole gang of new women. Trust me on that. Don't you guys get how shrewd he is? Do you think for one minute Tenise knows everything about his holdings?She could hardly go to the bathroom alone he controlled her so, it would be easy to hide some stacks away without her knowledge.

Only God knows what I know, think and understand. I said I am glad he is off the streets and that he is in jail however just because I want to pray for him as well as ALL victims doesn't mean I have to be a self-righteous attitude. I do have compassion for lost souls and shame on you "christians" who don't.

I am glad he is behind bars but I am not jumping up and down because of it. If that makes me not know about forgiveness then that's between me and God not any of you who are in need of mercy and grace just like me and any other sinner saved by grace.

You skip over those parts and look for ways to attack. What's in your closet that we know nothing of? Wait, don't confess...I don't need to know.

But God does and that's all that matters. You are quick to know who is under a spell and who wasn't. Not sure I'll be wasting my time talking to a want to be God Jr. You are not reading what I'm saying and I can't help you but you have it wrong as far as wht you think I get and don't get but you correctly stated scripture so I have no ill will towards you. Only God knows my heart and yours. If you are a DG hater then let it go. The legal system got it and so does God. If I were under his spell I would not have wanted him jailed. Doesn't mean I have to dance in the street over his downfall. He did it to himself. Some trials we go through are divine intervention and some are self-inflicted. HIs was self-inflicted and I pray he repents to God.

Did God actually hate Esau? If you look at the life of Esau, there was no indication he had the disfavor of God. He was wealthy and in good health. God did not display any hatred toward Esau. I believe the message being presented in Romans 9:13 is, "I have chosen to use Jacob, not Esau."

I don’t know why God used the word "hate." Maybe it had more cultural significance a few thousand years ago. Maybe the choice of words was to produce an emphasis or contrast. In Luke 14:26, God uses the word "hate" to contrast what our love should be toward Him. Here He says, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brother and sisters –yes, even his own life –he cannot be my disciple." Obviously, God is not saying we should actually hate our parents. He was only making a contrast of how great our love for God should be in comparison to our love for our family.

"I do have compassion for lost souls and shame on you "christians" who don't."

That is the whole point. He is not lost. He KNOWS the TRUTH. If he doesn't, what was he preaching all those years? How could he preach to you if he was 'lost' and did not know the Gospel?

He was willfully and consistently sinning while KNOWING the truth. It says in Hebrews then there is NO sacrfice.

Please read Hebrews 10:26-31. Then also read Matthew 7.

As to judging, read 1 Corin 5. We ARE to judge those in the Body. We are NOT to judge those in the world. (Most ego driven pastors do not teach this because they want you to believe their fruit cannot be judged by you. And they focus on the 'corrupt world' to judgeto rally folks)

Seriously, Toni. You need to go to the book ALONE. YOu have been taught wrong. If Gilyard was your pastor, you need to start over. He was all about protecting him and there is no telling what scripture has been twisted to his advantage to keep followers.

AS a matter of fact, he is the type who will prey on women like you with your 'empathy'.

Paul said in 1 Corin to kick the pervert out and give him over to Satan so he can be saved in the day of our Lord. He never once said to pray for him. Why? Because the pervert in 1 Corin 5 KNEW the truth.

These are the parts of scripture no one likes because it does not sound tolerant and nice. Everyone is running around offering cheap grace and easy forgiveness with no repentance that saves NO one who is a professing believer and lives in consistent willfull sin.

But it is truth. He has a better chance of being saved if everyone would turn him over to Satan.

Did God actually hate Esau? If you look at the life of Esau, there was no indication he had the disfavor of God. He was wealthy and in good health. God did not display any hatred toward Esau. I believe the message being presented in Romans 9:13 is, "I have chosen to use Jacob, not Esau."

God DID bless Esau. He also blessed foreign kings against Israel to punish them for His own purposes. Esau is traced through the OT as Edom. Read Jer 49:10, Obadiah 1, Hebrews 12:16

Check out Psalm 5:5

5The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.

2 "I have loved you," says the LORD. But you say, "How have you loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?" declares the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob 3but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert

Same word 'sane' for Esau.

Romans 9 (Read verse 11 very closely)

10And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12she was told,"The older will serve the younger." 13As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

Hated is Greek: miseo

from a primary misos (hatred);

to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less:--hate(-ful).

If God is perfect LOVE and perfect Justice how can HE not hate what is evil? And Human beings are evil.

The ONLY way we are saved is Jesus Christ. We are made 'righteous' through Him and the Atonement. So what does it mean when someone uses Jesus Christ to pimp for himself and satisfy his earthly lusts? Actually, we are told what happens to such ones in Jude. They were mapped out for condemnation long ago.

I hope Darrell can read this and fall on his face in godly sorrow.. I would not wish eternity in hell on the worst of the worst. To use your position as a shepherd to fulfill your carnal desires is so heinous that one can hardly speak of it without chills.

During this last year (plus) many things were shared with me from people close to Gilyard and also people that had "run ins" with him in the past.

One of the reasons that I knew that Darrell was not simply a "fallen" man, but absolutely given over to evil was by a statement he made to a friend of mine, this is a person that I trust and know was not spreading gossip. The following statement is evidence of the evil this man had become as he chose this life of sin and deception.

Several years ago while Pastor of Shiloh, Darrell was confronted by a group of men about his improrieties and told he should step down from the pulpit. Now these were not just rumors of infidelity, but proven and also extensive. His response to these men was much the same attitude and blasphemy that he displayed 18 years ago when confronted by a panel of Pastors in Texas (1991).

His response was "I do not care if Gabriel (the Arch Angel) himself came down from Heaven and told me that God told me to step down, I will not."

My thoughts are, if this guy is a Christian and he knew these things about Gilyard, why did he continue to be his friend? Just to get info and tell what he said or did? What a friend.

I agree he did horrible evil things but I never said he did not. All I said is that I WILL NOT rejoice in his downfall however he got what he deserved. It doesnt mean I'm under a spell or don't know bible. Is there something wrong with that?

My thoughts are, if this guy is a Christian and he knew these things about Gilyard, why did he continue to be his friend? Just to get info and tell what he said or did? What a friend.

Yes Toni, you were just born. In Tiffany's comment she said that she was told BY A FRIEND OF HERS, of a statement that Gilyard had made. Not Gilyard's friend. She said that a group of MEN approached Gilyard about his inproprieties.

No one is rejoicing here. You really don't get it, do you? We are pleased that for now this trail of debaucle is over and that perhaps the name of our Lord and Savior can be restored. The hope is that Gilyard comes to know this Savior for real! This can be a good thing that has happened to him if he allows it to be. You may need to examine yourself to see if you are in the faith, from the misunderstanding and mis quotes of the Scriptures.

Lastly:Re read what Tiffany wrote and pray for understanding. If you don't want to do that then here's another option: Okay...it's time for you to go to the hooked on phonics web. Move on Toni, move on.

This friend did end up leaving as he and some of the others along with him saw that Darrell was not interested in change nor was he going to be held accountable by anyone. The final straw however was that those within the church that were aware of all that was going on were not willing to do anything about it either. Darrell had power over many and then others chose to "look the other way" as long as he was bringing in money and "growing the church".

I also know now after things have been shared with me throughout the last year, that many of these Deacons were torn and confused as this was their leader and "in authority" over them. Many now feel very guilty about their involvement. This is a complicated and far reaching problem. That is why it is so imperative that some changes are made within our churches to keep this problem from growing. It is not just this isolated situation with Gilyard.

I have been reading your blog for somtime now. It appears you need attention. Earlier you mentioned you have a new baby. That is good but do you spend quality time with your new baby and your husband. I agree that Darrell Gilyard has done some terrible tings, he is now payng for those things. We will never know about his repenteance. Move on. What about starting a blog focused on recovery...you can even call it Rewards of Recovery or something like that. Let the folks go on and on. Spend quality time with your family, teach your child(ren) love one another. Move on. Actually you are giving Gilyard more attention that he deserves. Maybe he still has a spell on you.

This site was a place I like to visit now it has become a place full of little gods and authorities on what a person knows or doesn't know, who will go to hell and who will not. Also people who are able to judge people from afar.

Attacking me saying I need to go to Hook on Phonics is so spiritual of you. God bless you.

Tiffany no ill will towards you and what you have said. Did not see where you said a friend of yours said these things. You have done well with keeping this in the lime light.

I also know now after things have been shared with me throughout the last year, that many of these Deacons were torn and confused as this was their leader and "in authority" over them. Many now feel very guilty about their involvement. This is a complicated and far reaching problem. That is why it is so imperative that some changes are made within our churches to keep this problem from growing. It is not just this isolated situation with Gilyard.

June 16, 2009 8:36 AM

Looks to me like this blog is desperatly needed if this is what 'deacon's' believe.

This whole movement of pastor/elder authority is a huge trap of sin. God does not specially anoint a caste class of professional Christians. We can all have the Holy Spirit and if are saved have anointing. (1 John)

There are so many wrong beliefs from bad translations about 'authority' in the Body. It all boils down to folks following and idolizing a man instead of Christ. When that happens we have no wisdom or discernment because our understanding of the Word comes from someone who might be evil and twisting it for his own purposes. Or leaving out important parts. I know some pastors who actually teach that Matt 18 does NOT apply to them.

The whole idea of earthly authority/submission in the Body is a huge snare for prideful sin.

Jesus Christ is our authority. Not a mere human. We have functions in the church but NONE are more important than others. And all belivers are gifted by the Holy Spirit if they are really saved.

If you were under Gilyard's preaching, do NOT go looking for another human to teach you. The Word says we have the BEST Teacher: The Holy Spirit. Get alone and study. There are tons of resources for free online to check Greek and Hebrew. Get busy. You must never be deceived like this again.

You are responsble for the lies you believe. If you believe that, you will take scripture study more seriously now that you have been warned about deception. God gave you this warning on purpose.

Go to HIM. You are a part of the Holy PRIESTHOOD. There are no more earthly priests.

Toni, There are people here who love you and do not want you to be deceived ever again. They tell you these things in the hopes it will cause you to question them and drive you to scripture.

Thinking we know truth when we don't can cause us to find ourselves in similar circumstances again following men because we do not have real wisdom or discernment. I know what of I speak personally. I kept listening to preachers when I should have been asking God to teach me through his Word by the Holy Spirit.

In response to anon at 11:01 - I am praying about what to do with this blog. I have many different opinions and requests from people and I am waiting to see where God leads me. I have not felt Him leading me to shut it down just yet, it may come even this week - I don't know.

But one thing I am sure of, I do not need attention and my family gets all of my time. My time spent here is usually late at night after they are in bed or in brief moments during the day. I have often not been on top of the blog and posting because my family received my time and attention first. They are my priority over this - but God is first and He never gives us more than we can handle right?

Thank you for your concern however. I am not sure where this blog will go from here, it may be a different message, it may be shut down completely - I will go wherever He leads and if it is to walk away, then I will gladly do that. This is actually not my thing, but God has used it so to Him be the glory. I did not even know what a blog was until we started this - lol.

" I have not felt Him leading me to shut it down just yet, it may come even this week - I don't know.".

If you decide to stop blogging, please leave the site up and running. You can close the comments. At least, web site crawlers will pick up on the posts and comments and they will be indexed for future readers.

The whole idea of blogging is to educate readers and as a source of information.

And of course, all your past blog posts will act as reference to other users.

What many of you are now doing is eliminating the position of Pastor(Elder) all together. If God did not gift some men with the desire for leadership,then He would not have left a criteria for choosing them[Eph.4:11-14;1Tim.3:1-7;5:17-20;Titus 1:5-9;Heb.13:17;1Pet.5:1-3].The Apostles were gifted men in the Scriptures and leaders,as well as Timothy. In the Old Testament God choose men to lead His People. So we don't throw the baby out with the bath water. The problem lies in the fact that unscrupulous men enter the ministry for their own ulterior motives;usually for money,power and noteriety,and not a Love for Christ and HIS sheep! The Bible warns us over and over and over that these wolves would infiltrate the Church under the appearance of being sheep[Matt.7:15;Matt.23:1-3;24:5,11,24;2 Cor.11:1-4,20;Gal.2:4-5;Eph.4:14;Phil.1:15-17;Col.2:8;2Tim.3:12-14;Titus 1:10-16;2Pet.2:1-3;Jude:3-4]!!!These corrupt men mind only their own betterment not that of Christ children! What a true Elder does is feed Christ sheep. What a true Elder does is glory in his infirmities that power and Glory of Jesus is on display and rest upon him! A true elder understands that he has not been chosen to lord his position over the people,but to understands that he has been called to be the greatest servant! A true elder does not rob and abuse the people of God. The true elder does not sexually molest the sheep. A true elder pursues a life of blamelessness and integrity. A true elder understands that he and his ministry will be held accountable to Christ. A true elder understands that Christ must increase and become more intimate and relevant in the eyes and hearts of Christ people;while he( The elder)at the same times decreases!!!These men and now women who abuse and fleece the flock have not been called by God but by Satan[Jer.23:1-2,20-21,30-32]!!!

"What many of you are now doing is eliminating the position of Pastor(Elder) all together. If God did not gift some men with the desire for leadership,then He would not have left a criteria for choosing them[Eph.4:11-14;1Tim.3:1-7;5:17-20;Titus 1:5-9;Heb.13:17;1Pet.5:1-3].The Apostles were gifted men in the Scriptures and leaders,as well as Timothy. In the Old Testament God choose men to lead His People. So we don't throw the baby out with the bath water. "

Got to disagree with you Bro Rod. The Apostles were NOT gifted. As a matter of fact, they were NOT the cream of the rabbincally trained crop at all. We know this because if they were, they would not have been working. They would have been studying with a Rabbi until age 30 and then become a teacher. They did not make the cut.

They were less noble and less educated on purpose. Their gifts came from Jesus Christ. It only showed HIS Glory.

BTW: What does elder mean? Spiritually mature.

Here is your other problem. We were never meant to be under an elder for all time. We are meant to grow and feast on meat teaching others. We are to mature and BE elders, planting more churches.

Tell me, who were the elders at Corinth? Phillipi? Who were the pastors? We only know a few of the other churches.

Fact is, we have elevated a FUNCTION of the Body as an office. It isn't. The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you.

Elders are only servants. They should have calloused knees. Their only power or authority is to the degree they rightly divide the Word. They CARE for souls. They have NO authority over others in the Body. If they did, then Paul would have charged them with doing church discipline ONLY. He did not. He charged the WHOLE church with this task.

A true Elder WANTS believers to mature past them. They would delight it that.

Just ONE example: Hebrews 13:17 is horribly translated. Do the Greek indepth and you can see how the KJ guys were laboring under church state please the king mentality. Most modern translations use the KJ so the problem compounds. Men like their authority too much to do this verse justice.

That verse translated like it is negates too many other verses about not lording it over, first will be last, all the one anothers, etc. Besides, find me the word 'elder' in that passage. Look at verse 7. Past tense.

Those that came before us.

Elders do not rule. They serve.

Note the English words the translators chose and the Greek meanings:

"Obey"According to W.E. Vine, the Greek word peitho means "to persuade, to win over, in the Passive and Middle Voices, to be persuaded, to listen to, to obey, is so used with this meaning, in the Middle Voice. THE OBEDIENCE SUGGESTED IS NOT BY SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY, BUT RESULTING FROM PERSUASION" (emp. mine. An Expository Dic-tionary of New Testament Words, Vol. 3, p. 124).

The thrust of the word peitho is not one of submission to authority; it is one of listening to someone out of respect and taking their advice. A better translation of peitho in verse 17 is "Listen to," not "Obey them."

Peitho is sometimes translated "trust" in the King James Version of the New Testament and would have been an ideal translation in verse 17: ‘Trust them....’ This leaves the reader with a different flavor entirely than does the translation "Obey them..."

"Have The Rule Over You"This is the part of verse 17 that really shows the bias and intent of the translators. "Have the rule over you" (KJV) was given as the meaning of hegeomai. It is used 28 times in the New Testament and translated variously as "count," "think," "esteem," "be governor," and other miscellaneous words such as "chief' and "leader."

It is significant to me that the King James translators used the strongest possible English words to translate hegeomai. Out of the 28 times the word appears, they elected to translate it "rule over you" three times: Hebrews 13:7, 17, and 24, thus, strengthening the concept that the Church officer had unquestionable rule and authority and must be obeyed.

If the Holy Spirit wanted to convey the idea that Elders (Bishops) had the authority that they now claim, He would have used the Greek word arche, which translates into "rule" or "power." One who had the authority to rule was archon, "a ruler" or "a magistrate.' By choosing hegeomai the Holy Spirit indicated that these men who "watch(ed) in behalf of your souls", were the leaders among them.

(Only Jesus has all power and authority over believers in the Body of Christ. We must never forget that and that is why this passage is translated in a way that usurps Jesus Christ. But then kings with a church/state power thought that way)

"Submit"Those who push the Authoritarian position usually say, "If the 'rule over you' doesn't get you, the 'submit to them' will." Let's see if that is true.

Hupeiko is only found one time in the New Testament, in Hebrews 13:17. Mr. Vine says it means:"To retire, withdraw (hupo, under, eiko, to yield), hence, to yield, submit, is used metaphorically in Heb. 13:17, of submitting to spiritual guides in the churches" (Vine, Vol. 4, p. 87). Notice the thrust of this word. It means "to yield" or "to give in to." The thought in this verse, then, is for the Christian to yield to the wisdom of the older, more matured, spiritual leader. It is not a question of submitting to one who has "authority over you," but just simply respecting another's experience and wisdom.

If that one has a track record of being weak in the knowledge of the scriptures, or has shown himself to be anything but spiritually minded, or is not a tested, proven leader among the group, there will not be the respect for him, and a thousand "appointments" will not make him into an "elder." There have been far too many instances where a congregation has "made" someone an "elder" and then expected everyone to "submit" to his "authoritative position." You cannot get that teaching out of Hebrews 13:17. You cannot find it anywhere in God's word.

There are other words in the Greek that are translated "subject,' "subjection,'' and "submit," but interestingly, not a one of them applies to "elders." Hupotasso is a word that is used 40 times, not once pertaining to "elders."

Note: We would all be attracted to a true elder. One problem we have is that we do not know what one would look like. WE are too used to charismatic preacher boys.

Thanks for the response Brother Mark. I as Dennis Prager would say; "I desire clarity over agreement". I agree that minisrty is a plurality of leaders. I also agree with you that leaders should be teaching in such a way that the people grow to equality or surpass the knowledge of the pastor so as not to be "tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine".I also agree that true believer should be migrating and creating new Churches. But the fact that their are qualifications for leaders and deacons,and examples of God choosing leaders both O.T. and N.T. both secular and spiritually; I then must defer too the fact that some men have been called to lead!!!But as always wicked men infiltrate and corrupt anything that GOD institutes!!!

Thanks Bro./Pastor Rod for your spiritual insight and godly counsel on this blog. You are the one (maybe 2) pastors of all the pastors in the city of Jacksonville who has spoken up and stood on the Word of God when others turned a deaf ear. May the Lord bless you because of this.

Thanks to all who've played a part in bringing justice for these young girls and their families.

This is a list of scandals related to American Christian evangelists. (Roman Catholic clergy and high-profile leaders from New Religious Movements are not within the scope of this list.)

1. Aimee Semple McPherson, 1920s–40s: Prior to recent events, the most famous evangelist scandal involved Canadian-born Aimee Semple McPherson in the 1920s, who allegedly had an extramarital relationship and faked her own death as a cover. She later claimed that she had been kidnapped, but a grand jury could neither prove that a kidnapping occurred, nor that she had faked it. Roberta Semple Salter, her daughter from her first marriage, became estranged from Semple McPherson and successfully sued her mother's attorney for slander during the 1930s. As a result of this she was cut out of her mother's will. Aimee Semple McPherson died in 1944 from an accidental overdose of barbiturates.

2. Lonnie Frisbee, 1970s–1980s: Lonnie Frisbee was an American closeted gay Pentecostal evangelist and self-described "seeing prophet" and mystic in the late 1960s and 1970s who despite his "hippie" appearance had notable success as a minister and evangelist. Frisbee was a key figure in the Jesus Movement and was involved in the rise of two worldwide denominations (Calvary Chapel and the Vineyard Movement). Both churches later disowned him because of his active homosexuality, removing him first from leadership positions, then ultimately firing him. He eventually died from AIDS in 1993.

3. Billy James Hargis, early 1970s: Hargis was a prolific author and radio evangelist. Hargis formed American Christian College in 1971 in order to teach fundamentalist Christian principles. However, a sex scandal erupted at the College, involving claims that Hargis had had sex with male and female students. Hargis was forced out of American Christian College's presidency as a result. Further scandals erupted when members of Hargis' youth choir, the "All American Kids", accused Hargis of sexual misconduct as well. The college eventually closed down in the mid-1970s. Hargis denied the allegations publicly.

4. Jim & Tammy Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart, 1986 and 1991: In 1986, evangelist Jimmy Swaggart began on-screen attacks against fellow televangelists Marvin Gorman and Jim Bakker. He uncovered Gorman's affair with a member of Gorman's congregation, and also helped expose Bakker's infidelity (which was arranged by a colleague while on an out-of-state trip). These exposures received widespread media coverage. Gorman retaliated in kind by hiring a private investigator to uncover Swaggart's own adulterous indiscretions with a prostitute. Swaggart was subsequently forced to step down from his pulpit for a year and made a tearful televised apology in February 1988 to his congregation, saying "I have sinned against you, my Lord, and I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God's forgiveness."

Swaggart was caught again by California police five years later in 1991 with another prostitute, Rosemary Garcia, who was riding with him in his car when he was stopped for driving on the wrong side of the road. When asked why she was with Swaggart, she replied, "He asked me for sex. I mean, that's why he stopped me. That's what I do. I'm a prostitute." Rather than confessing to his congregation, Swaggart told those at Family Worship Center that "The Lord told me it's flat none of your business.

5. Peter Popoff, 1987: A self-proclaimed prophet and faith healer in the 1980s, Popoff's ministry went bankrupt in 1987 after James Randi and Steve Shaw debunked his methods by showing that instead of receiving information about audience members from supernatural sources, he received it through an in-ear receiver.

6. Mike Warnke, 1991: Warnke was a popular Christian evangelist and comedian during the 1970s and 1980s. He claimed in his autobiography, The Satan Seller (1973), that he had once been deeply involved in a Satanic cult and was a Satanic priest before converting to Christ. In 1991, Cornerstone magazine launched an investigation into Warnke's life and testimony. They investigated Warnke's life, from interviews with over 100 personal friends and acquaintances, to his ministry's tax receipts. Their investigation turned up damaging evidence of fraud and deceit. The investigation also revealed the unflattering circumstances surrounding Warnke's multiple marriages, affairs, and divorces. Most critically, however, the investigation showed how Warnke could not possibly have done the many things he claimed to have done throughout his nine-month tenure as a Satanist, much less become a drug-addicted dealer or become a Satanic high priest.

7. Robert Tilton, 1991: Tilton is an American televangelist who achieved notoriety in the 1980s and early 1990s through his paid television program Success-N-Life. At its peak it aired in all 235 American TV markets. In 1991, Diane Sawyer and ABC News conducted an investigation of Tilton. The investigation, broadcast on ABC's Primetime Live on November 21, 1991, found that Tilton's ministry threw away prayer requests without reading them, keeping only the money or valuables sent to them by viewers, garnering his ministry an estimated $80 million USD a year. In the original investigation, one of Tilton's former prayer hotline operators claimed that the ministry cared little for desperate followers who called for prayer, saying that Tilton had a computer installed in July 1989 to make sure that the phone operators were off the line in seven minutes. Tilton sued ABC for libel in 1992, but the case was dismissed in 1993, and Tilton's show was off the air by October 30, 1993.

8. Frank Houston, 2000: Frank Houston was a Pentecostal Christian pastor in the Assemblies of God in New Zealand and Australia. In 2000 he was advised to resign his ministerial credentials by his own son, Brian Houston, the National President of the Assemblies of God in Australia (and pastor of Hillsong Church), after Houston Sr. confessed that he had engaged in pedophile sexual activities with a teenage boy while ministering in New Zealand some thirty years earlier.

9. John Paulk, 2000: John Paulk is a former leader of Focus on the Family's Love Won Out conference and former chairman of the board for Exodus International North America. His claimed shedding of homosexuality is also the subject of his autobiography Not Afraid to Change. In September 2000, Paulk was found and photographed in a Washington, D.C. gay bar, and accused by opponents of flirting with male patrons at the bar. Later questioned by Wayne Besen, Paulk denied being in the bar despite photographic proof to the contrary. Initially, FoF’s Dr. James Dobson sided with Paulk and supported his claims. Subsequently, Paulk, who himself had written about his habit of lying while he openly lived as a homosexual, confessed to being in the bar, but claimed he entered the establishment for reasons other than sexual pursuits. Paulk retained his Board seat for Exodus, however he did so while on probation. Paulk did not run again for chairman of the board of Exodus when his term expired.

10. Paul Crouch, 2004: Paul Crouch is the founder and president of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, or TBN, the world's largest evangelical Christian television network, as well as the former host of TBN's flagship variety show, Praise the Lord. In September 2004, the Los Angeles Times published a series of articles raising questions about the fundraising practices and financial transparency of TBN, as well as the allegations of a former ministry employee, Enoch Lonnie Ford, that he had a homosexual affair with Crouch during the 1990s. The Times spoke with several sources that claimed that other evangelists such as Benny Hinn, Jack Hayford, and Paul's son Matthew were aware that an affair had taken place. TBN denied the allegations, claiming that Ford's claims were part of an extortion scheme and that the Times was a "left-wing and anti-Christian newspaper" for publishing the articles. In 2005, Ford submitted to and passed a lie detector test on the ION Television program Lie Detector (TV series).

11. Douglas Goodman, 2004: Douglas Goodman, an evangelical preacher, and his wife Erica were Pastors of Victory Christian Centre in London. He came into notoriety when he was jailed for three and a half years for the sexual assault of 4 members of his congregation in 2004. VCC was closed by the Charity Commission but his wife Erica started a new church Victory to Victory in Wembley. The church was one of the largest in the United Kingdom.

12. Kent Hovind, 2006: Kent Hovind is an American Young Earth creationist. He is most famous for creation science seminars, in which he argues for Young Earth creationism, using his self-formulated "Hovind Theory". He has been criticized by both the mainstream scientific community and other creationists. In 2006, Hovind had been charged with falsely declaring bankruptcy, making threats against federal officials, filing false complaints, failing to get necessary building permits, and various tax-related charges. He was convicted of 58 federal tax offenses and related charges, for which he is currently serving a 10-year sentence.

13. Ted Haggard, 2006: Ted Haggard was the Pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado and was the president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) from 2003 until November 2006. Haggard's position allowed him occasional access to George W. Bush. In 2006 it was alleged that Haggard had been regularly visiting a male prostitute who also provided him with methamphetamine. Haggard admitted his wrongdoing and resigned as pastor of New Life church and as president of the NAE. The high-profile case was significant also because it immediately preceded the 2006 mid-term elections and may have even affected national voting patterns. In January 2009, Haggard admitted to a second homosexual relationship with a male church member, Brant Hass, on CNN-TV and other national media, and when asked, would not directly answer a question about his other possible homosexual relationships.

14. Paul Barnes, 2006: Paul Barnes is the founder and former senior minister of the evangelical church Grace Chapel in Douglas County, Colorado. He confessed his homosexual activity to the church board, and his resignation was accepted on 7 December 2006. He started the church in his basement and watched it reach a membership of 2,100 in his 28 years of leadership. This scandal was notable because it was similar to Ted Haggard's (above), it occurred in the same state (Colorado) and around the same time (late 2005).

15. Lonnie Latham, 2006: In 2006, Latham, the senior pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church and a member of the powerful Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, was arrested for “offering to engage in an act of lewdness” with a male undercover police officer.

16. Richard Roberts, 2007: In October 2007, televangelist Richard Roberts (son of Oral Roberts), was president of Oral Roberts University until his forced resignation on November 23, 2007. Roberts was named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging improper use of university funds for political and personal purposes and improper use of university resources.

17. Bishop Earl Paulk, 2007: Earl Paulk (no relation to John Paulk) was the founder and head Pastor of Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Decatur, Georgia from 1960 until the 1990s. A number of women from the congregation came forward during the 1990s claiming that Paulk had sexual relations with them. Some of these claims have subsequently been proven correct. Moreover, Donnie Earl Paulk, the current senior pastor of the church and nephew of Earl Paulk, had a court-ordered DNA test in 2007 which showed that he was Earl's son, not his nephew, which means that Earl and his sister-in-law had had a sexual relationship which led to Donnie's birth.

18. Coy Privette, 2007: Privette is a Baptist pastor, conservative activist, and politician in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Privette was president of the Christian Action League and a prominent figure in North Carolina moral battles. In 2007, Privette resigned as president of North Carolina's Christian Action League and from the Board of Directors of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, following revelations on July 19 that he had been charged with six counts of aiding and abetting prostitution.

19. Joe Barron, 2008: Joe Barron, one of the 40 ministers at Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the largest churches in the United States with 26,000 members, was arrested on May 15, 2008 for solicitation of a minor after driving from the Dallas area to Bryan, Texas, in order to allegedly engage in sexual relations with what he thought to be a 13 year-old girl he had met online. The "girl" turned out to be an undercover law enforcement official.

20. Todd Bentley, 2008: In August 2008, Todd Bentley, best known as the controversial key figure of the Lakeland revival in Florida "has agreed to step down from his position on the Board of Directors" of Fresh Fire Ministries, "and to refrain from all public ministry for a season to receive counsel in his personal life." This was after the ministry revealed he had an "unhealthy relationship on an emotional level with a female member of his staff". The announcement came one week after Bentley's ministry announced he and his wife were separating.

21. Tony Alamo, 2008: On September 20, 2008, FBI agents raided Tony Alamo Christian Ministries headquarters as part of a child pornography investigation. This investigation involved allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse and allegations of polygamy and underage marriage. According to Terry Purvis, mayor of Fouke, Arkansas, his office has received complaints from former ministry members about allegations of child abuse, sexual abuse and polygamy since the ministry established itself in the area, and in turn, Purvis turned over information about the allegations to the FBI. Investigators at the scene plan to conduct a search of ministry headquarters and the home of Alamo and interview children present on the compound.

22. In 2007, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) opened a probe into the finances of six televangelists who preach a "prosperity gospel". The probe investigates reports of lavish lifestyles by televangelists including: fleets of Rolls Royces, huge palatial mansions, private jets and other excesses. These luxuries are purportedly paid for by television viewers who donate due to the ministry's requests for tithes. The six under investigation are Kenneth Copeland and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries of Newark, Texas; Creflo Dollar and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga; Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn Ministries of Grapevine, Texas; Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries of Lithonia, Ga; Joyce Meyer and David Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo; Randy White and Paula White of the multiracial Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa.

Tiffany, your mission is not complete. You have more work to do and it is MY prayer that you keep this blog alive. You have a 3-year reprieve from DG but you have a vehicle here with this blog of providing relevant information about other clergy engaged in the same practices

I believe it is your honor to compose and enter into Wikipedia the Darrell Gillyard story to add to the collection of above names. Use whatever means you can to keep this topic alive until there is no longer the topic TO keep alive.

Chrisa Brown ... the others who frequent this blog ... Wikipedia is very informative sometimes, albeit not completely correct ALL the time. I has a rather wide audience. Start adding names. Start adding stories. Start spreading the word. The pastors don't seem to want to do it.

Lot of the comments want to kick churches that allow peaching done by women or where homosexuals were made welcome. What an irony!

But they coddle and prevaricate on adulterers, sexual perverts, rapers of young girls, boys and women. For some reason Church autonomy plays a big role here, but not for homosexuals being made welcome or if women preachers are led by The Spirit to preach.

To Richard (6-18, 1:59): Baylor University has just finished a research project on clergy sexual misconduct focusing on pastor sex offenders who prey upon adult women in their church. The findings of this extensive research will be out soon. I'm sure the findings will be placed in Wikipedia. The Darrell Gilyard case is just one example of hundreds, if not thousands of pastors who have maligned the pastoral profession by preying upon adult women (and children) in churches. The feeling of being vindicated is sweet; bittersweet. When I think of at least two women who were hurt by the same pastor who hurt me that did not survive, I am greatly saddened that this research project is so long in coming. At the same time, I am elated and grateful to the Lord for bringing clergy sexual misconduct to light. Praise God.

Thank you Richard. Thank you for having the courage to list the names of the 'high and mighty' fake preachers that no one wants to name. Thank you for enlightening some and calling to the remembrance of others. Praise God that He always has a few who are not afraid or ashame to expose these charlatans. Thanks to you, Bro./pastor Rod H, Mark and never forget Tiffany who God greatly used to start this quest AND continue in it. I pray that this does not go away. It is better to fear God than man.

For those who want this blog to stop...go somewhere else and read. To Go be the glory forever Amen.

I was led to Wikipedia by my kids as a quick way to find out information about just about anyone and anything. I don’t work for them nor am I promoting their website. I am not sure what extent of oversight the articles have, but they can be added and amended by the general public. I didn’t go looking for the information I posted above; I accidentally stumbled upon it and was FLOORED at the prevalence of this sort of thing in the ministry of God as a whole (it goes WAY beyond the SBC.) Two stories slapped me in the face as particularly absurd … Pastor Donnie Earl Paulk in Decatur, GA finds out late in life that is UNCLE is actually his FATHER … and that Jimmy Swaggert had the audacity to get up in front of his congregation and say “The Lord told me it's flat none of your business.”

And guess what … Jimmy Swaggert STILL has a ministry and a website begging for money. When will people learn ???????

My post was meant to be strictly informative. What is it that sue-crazy lawyer says on late night television, “Knowledge is Power?” I put the same posts on the FBCjaxwatchdog site and again on the Bellevue Baptist Church site. I didn’t post it on Crista Brown’s site because I didn’t want to steal any of the glory she deserves with the publication of her book this month. The only reason for my posts was to provide information.

The Darrell Gillyard story needs to be told; it needs to be spread just like the Word of God. Darrell has earned his place in the ranks of the names I mentioned above. Tiffany has accumulated enough facts about DG that she would be more qualified than I to make an entry into Wikipedia. It is not a vehicle to post idle gossip and opinion, just facts.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Tiffany; she has handled this blog with grace and style from its inception. She was never searching for sympathy and pity for her horrible experience, only to educate and inform the public. She did a MAGNIFICENT job! There is no vindication, only a sense of relief that this chapter is over. The book is far from done.

Just as Michael J. Fox has become the proverbial poster boy, albeit unintentionally, for Parkinson’s Disease, Darrell Gillyard would sure make a good poster boy for how NOT to act as a minister of God. Perhaps he made a good entertainer, but he made a LOUSY minister.

It has been said time and time again that a minister has a “calling” to become a minister. I believe that this blog was Tiffany’s calling. She deserves a vacation, but her work is far from over. I believe God will tell her this in her Prayers.

Amen, Amen, Amen. Oh my goodness, Amen!! I echo your thanks to Bro. Rod, Mark, Tiffany, and everyone involved in exposing abuse of ministers in the church AND shedding enlightment of truth from the scriptures (including Christa and Sharon Rose). Anon 8:25 am I concur with your post completely.

I study the scriptures with renewed vigor and enjoyment and am often overcome with reverence, emotion, and godly fear as God is revealed. I pray that the victims and others who were hurt and confused (also victims) will ALL find healing in Jesus name.

Thank you for your posts Richard. I agree with you that -Tiffany- has done MAGNIFICENTLY.

I've just read Christa Brown's new topic on her blog posted today entitled, "Greatness and Smallness."

A regular poster on the this blog and Christa’s blog, "gmommy" said, ".... For now, when I go to church, I go to a small, quiet Presbyterian church. It is very traditional. They have 2 pastors and both are very kind to me. Neither are "rock star" preachers but the main guy especially, is incredibly humble ... even on the shy side. NOTHING is about the man in the pulpit ... nothing. No one sweats or screams or runs around like they are angry. The Bible is taught and not like...let’s pick a subject ... "You are stealing from God if you don't tithe" and then 15 verses from all over the Bible read out of context just to make their point.

They definitely deal with sin but they don't pick their favorite sins to rant about. Repentance is always a theme (and not just so you won't burn in hell), the love and character of Christ, and relationship with Christ ... adoration for Him...not the "pastor" or programs! I'm sure it's not a perfect church ..."

I’ve said before I was a Presbyterian. It makes my heart feel good that “gmommy,” whoever she may be, found peace in a Presbyterian church. This is the kind of church I grew up in and have always known.

For those who have already assumed two things, let me assure you that (1) if you think I quoted that out of context, I invite you to read Christa’s blog and the entirety of gmommy’s post and (2) I am NOT blogging in here trying to convert Baptists into Presbyterians.

"... You know, friends, the more people who post reviews on Amazon, the more prominently Amazon will display the book in searches for things like "Baptist Books" (believe it or not!), religion, clergy issues, etc.

Amazon does its rankings based on daily sales, so a brand new book that sells 10 copies in one day actually shoots to the top of their smaller charts (like religion). And reviews also add points to the ratings, as do comments on reviews.

If you are shy about writing in such a large venue, you can always stay simple: identify your reason for reading the book (I'm a Christian; I've been following clergy abuse stories; or I'm a survivor of clergy abuse, etc) and then a single statement of your reaction. (This book helped me understand the situation. Or, I had no idea the problem was this serious. Or, This book made me feel like I have not suffered alone, etc.

By contributing reviews and comments on reviews, you help to keep the book prominent."

Thanks to any of you who are able to post just a few sentences about my book on the Amazon or Barnes & Noble sites. It really helps!June 22, 2009 8:10 AM.-----------------------------------Christa Brown said...Many thanks to those of you who contributed comments to the Associated Baptist Press article about my book. It's up to 93 today, and still counting. I think that's way more than ANY other ABP article has ever garnered.

To this day, the ABP is still running that article as a lead-story-slider at the top of its home page. I believe the many comments are what have helped to keep the story in a highly-visible place on the site, and particularly with the Southern Baptist Convention starting tomorrow, your comments help.June 22, 2009 8:24 AM.-----------------------------------

Congratulations certainly go out to CHRISTA BROWN...not just for her book, but for her undaunted courage in speaking out against clergy sexual misconduct. Praise God.

It's high time this country take a look at how clergy sex offenders have usurped God's power in the sacred pulpits of our sacred places. All people, men, women and children should have the right to attend church in safety with the reasonable expectation that church leaders be trustworthy, especially in their character.

RICHARD - THANK YOU for your courage in making a simple, yet absolutely incomplete list of "fallen" church leaders! I would venture to say that list isn't even the tip of the tip of the iceberg. And let's not forget that statistically, each of the fallen pastors, as in the Darrell Gilyard case, has had numerous victims. That's a sobering thought.

TIFFANY - thank you so much for your courage in speaking out, and for keeping this blog open. If you decide to shut it down, then to God be the glory for the voice you have provided, giving strength and courage to so many adult survivors of clergy abuse. Whether or not you choose to keep it up, the work the Lord has begun through you will continue to grow.

PASTOR ROD - Thank you for your many powerful and kind words regarding this case. There is a sense of vindication, and yet it is bittersweet. Oh, if DG and Shiloh's leaders had only heeded your exhortation so many years ago then perhaps these two teens (and the adult women he also hurt) would have been spared. But the Lord causes all things to "work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." May God be praised.

To Gmommy - thank you for all of our comments on this blogsite, and on Christa's. I, too, have found a wonderful Presbyterian church where I am accepted for who I am without prejudice. It's nice to go to church and be safe.

I am keeping my eyes open for more of what the Lord has in store for the righteous.

If you go to the ABP website and click on the link to the article about Christa's book, it takes you to a page that has only TWO comments. It then has an Editor's note at the bottom: "This is a reposting of this article. To read or post comments on this story, go to the original version posted at http://www.abpnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4142&Itemid=53.

This way, readers do not get to see all the comments! Try it! The ABP Press has figured out a way to block your comments!

Christa states, on her blog, "Actually... I tend to be about as "on-guard" as anyone, but in this case, I don't think Associated Baptist Press was trying to avoid having people see the comments. To the contrary, I think they were trying to maintain the article's visibility on their site because the article was generating reader interest. I haven't spoken with anyone there about this, and so I can't say for sure, but I noticed that they put the article up as one of their slider-lead stories on the opening home page of their site. At the top, the site automatically rotates through 3 top stories with links to those top stories. One of the three slider-leads is the article about my book, and they have a photo of my book cover and me that rotates through there at the top. I don't know... but I suspect that when they put up the slider-lead, they had to repost the article.

The article is here, and it's still garnering comments. Feel free to add your own.

If you want to see what I'm talking about as a "slider-lead", it's at the top of the ABP home page - here. Click one of those arrows in that top box, and you'll see my smiling face!

Incidentally, Associated Baptist Press is not directly affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention."

I may have jumped the gun. I'll apologize after I read their article on the Baptist Ministers in Jacksonville, the crime capital of the world. :(

VTMBottomLine [Paul Burleson] > Following An Example.Four years later we have received word that Wade is laying aside writing anything of a political nature. Don't hear that as laying aside anything controversial because his theology will be that thank you. But he will be refusing to write anything that addresses the political state or condition of the SBC for the next year. I have not spoken to him since his announcement and am writing my thoughts without him knowing anything about what those thoughts might be. But I do have some thoughts.

In my humble but accurate opinion, [:)] Wade has been operating under a real calling of God for these past four years. He has suffered rebuke, revilement, questioned motives, and has been called too many things/names to begin listing them here. But the truth is, he could care less because of a belief that he HAS had a calling of God for what he has done. It has always ONLY been a principled thing for him like him or not.

This is the site that kept the light shining on Gilyard's non- spiritual and physical behavior so that when his trial date came nearly around his actions were not forgotten but were still warmly on peoples' hearts and minds. And whose part cannot be denied for bringing gilyard to some kind of justice.

I do feel sorry for Gilyard but do I want his sentence to be reversed? NO WAY. He has broke the law of the land. He must render to Caesar what is Caesar's here and we all will face judgement day later even after God has dealt with us here. And just as our God does with us when we sin, God gave him chances to repent. I know from personal experience that God is long-suffering BUT when you get to the end of the rope.. that's it. TIME'S UP. I wish so much that DG could have straightened his act up in the beginning but he obviously couldn't help himself so this was his inevitable end if not death. No one wishes anyone to end up a sad story. I know I don't. His story was a sad one before he went to jail. All the people he hurt, the painful wounds and then scars that will remain with them; his own children; his ex-wives.

I think you wanted your comment to cause Tiffany to react. So my comment at the end of my above post was directed to you. I really believe this so I say again, I'm sure Tiffany wishes his life walk would have been different too.

Yes, I do truly wish his life would have been different. I hope that at some point he started out on the correct road...though we know that all of his original testimony was false, so it seems it was all a lie.However, I still believe that God is so much bigger than all of this and He can accomplish whatever He wishes even through this. I pray that it will bring about repentance and remorse and change in Darrell. I know that this has been a long, hard road for many and I am glad that this part atleast is over. I pray that when he is released that this travesty will not happen again.

To all of you still trying to heal, especially the female victims - I am praying for you. I am still an email away and have counseling contacts that would love to help you.thefamilycircus8@gmail.com

The reason I asked if it were true is because I really don't want it to be so. I wish no ill towards him in prison and I will state again, "the source is reliable:"Does that answer your question smart mouth?

Jesus taught that when the Holy Spirit came, He would convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). Jesus explained in verse 9 that the Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin, "because they believe not on me". Jesus is the pure, sinless, and holy Son of God. To reject Him is to reject God (Luke 10:16) and to oppose what is right. The Holy Spirit's word convicts the sinner of sin in rejecting the Savior. In verse 10, Jesus said the Holy Spirit convicts of "righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see me no more." Jesus was condemned by man on a charge of blasphemy, but His resurrection, ascension, and exaltation to God's right hand established His claim of equality with God. Through the word, the Holy Spirit works on the sinner's heart, convincing him that Christ is righteous and he is guilty. Further, in verse 11 Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit convicts "of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." Paul called Satan "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4). He withstood Jesus in every way, although he was ultimately unsuccessful. He was responsible for the death of Jesus, hoping to not only destroy His life but also His work. When God raised Jesus from the tomb the plans of the Devil were foiled, and his doom sealed. He is under the judgment of God! The gospel (revealed by the Holy Spirit) works in the heart of a sinner, convicting him of the absolute certainty of his own accountability before God.

Now, are you undermining God? Are you saying that the Holy Spirit can not convict Darrell? The sins of Darrell's past does not mean that God will not forgive him nor does it mean that Darrell can not move forward using the gift of God to spread the gospel. God is the entity that can forgive and wash sins away. We do not have the power to determine the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Now, are you undermining God? Are you saying that the Holy Spirit can not convict Darrell? The sins of Darrell's past does not mean that God will not forgive him nor does it mean that Darrell can not move forward using the gift of God to spread the gospel. God is the entity that can forgive and wash sins away. We do not have the power to determine the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

August 9, 2009 10:08 PM

Here is your problem besides Romans...Hebrews 10:26-31

Not only that but any teaching function in the Body ( pastors, elders, etc) if off limits to him now biblically. Read 1 Timothy and Titus. part of the qualifications are 'above reproach to the OUTSIDE'. And of course the warning in James about teachers of the Word.

Darrell fails that because he was a professing Christian, pastor and leader the entire time he was a secret criminal.

There is a reason that qualification is in there. A teacher/preacher that has willfully, consistently sinned means they believed really there was no sacrifice.

Darrell can be welcomed back into the Body if truly repentent but his elder days should be over. And if he is truly repentent, he will be the first one to tell you that.

So, you're saying that if he is "truly" repentent he'll be the first one to tell it. I do not believe that you believe that. Do you? That will not be good enough for people who simply do not believe that God is a forgiving God and will wash his sins away. Personally, I believe that God's actions will speak louder than Gilyard's words.

So, you're saying that if he is "truly" repentent he'll be the first one to tell it. I do not believe that you believe that. Do you? That will not be good enough for people who simply do not believe that God is a forgiving God and will wash his sins away. Personally, I believe that God's actions will speak louder than Gilyard's words.

August 16, 2009 11:58 PM

What I think is that you are being silly. You do not want to believe scripture which is very clear about qualifications of elders.

Who has said that God will not wash away sin of a repentent person?

Are you suggesting that just because God forgives (it is conditional on true repentance, though) there are no lasting consequences for sin?

That is not true of civil law nor of scripture.

Think about it. There are CLEAR qualifications for elders in 1 Tim and Titus. Are you suggesting we ignore them for Darrell? Why is he so special those qualifications do not apply to him?

Can he be part of the Body if truly repentent? Yes

Can he be an elder (pastor) again? No

My point was that if he is truly repentent, he will never try to be an elder/pastor again. He can witness to as many folks as he wants to. HE can be part of the Body. But scripture is clear about qualifications of an elder.

Was Darrell and elder/pastor WHILE he was molesting little girls? Was he saved and just having about 15 years worth of bad hair days?

AGain, you did not go and read Hebrews 10:26-31 did you? Also the entire book of 1 John.

"You can say whatever you like. Don't be surprised when he's preaching again. I'm quite sure that you will be."

August 17, 2009 6:35 PM

He will preach again because there are Biblically ignorant people,such as yourself who will allow him too. But the Scriptural qualifications state that he is not above reproach, therefore he has been disqualified from ever serving in the Pastorate again period!

If he does minister again in the capacity of a pastor/elder, believe this; it will be by his own power and not that of GOD'S...just as he has been doing all along. The man is disqualified! You perhaps are JUST as warped in the brain as Darrell is. May the Lord show you the true light.

I just heard that Darrell was beaten pretty bad in prison. My heart is in pain for a fallen saint. I'm not condoning his sin, but I would not know if I could handle this if it was me. We should not judge so harsly. It could be any of us

Well, I heard that he was receiving a host of letters from several individuals, both black and white, from across the United States. Although, he still may have been beaten. There are consequences for all of actions, whether good or bad. He should have never placed himself in such a position for possible torture, but there is a consequence for everything we do. Maybe, God is allowing him to grow closer to Him, while he is locked up, so that he will not make the same mistakes when he is released.

I am sorry to disappoint you but many people are not concerned with what is happening with gilyard while he is in prison. Many people just wanted him there to pay for his MANY, many failures in judgement.

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Dg did get beaten up as it is a well know fact that immates do not like Pedophiles! Perhaps they (the prison system) will have to move him to a more safe enviroment.

By the way, if DG ever makes it out of prison, you can take this to the bank and cash the check: He will preach and pastor again!

Why? Because Black people do not understand nor do they care to understand God's Word on Biblical qualifications for pastors!

Just today, Henry Lyons, a convicted Felon ran for President once again for the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Thank God he lost in the landslide to Dr. julius Scruggs, but my point is clear: why would Lyons name even be on a ballot? Because Black people do not understand the nature of forgiveness, repentance, restitution, reconciliation, and restoration....which in Lyons case, there is no restoration as he is disqualified, pure and simple!

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Gilyard is at a 1300 men facility on the other side of Tally.Historical Information: This facility was established in 1996 and houses adult male inmates. Wakulla Work Camp and Shisa West Work Release Center are under the supervision of Wakulla Correctional Institution. In 2005, Wakulla C.I. became a male Faith- and Character-Based Institution (FCBI).

Darrell was a friend of mine at Criswell College. His heart was filled with the love of God back then. I really believe that ego got the best of him. I have followed his story through the years and just stumbled on this blog today. Another preacher friend of mine who had a remarkable personality and overflowing with gifts of oratory became proud of his fame. He started thinking he should be treated like a highly respected prophet. Last I heard, he was playing in a jazz club somewhere in Houston. I believe God can turn his heart around. This prison sentence is a blessing in disguise. If a man will not humble himself before God. God will humble him. He promised to discipline his children. Our goal in life is to be Christ-like. That can happen behind iron bars also.

Our family has been in transition this last year. We have made some financial changes and adjusted our budget, taking out all excess - which included our internet access. So I have only occassionally logged in to the blog to check up on it. I apologize for any comment directed to me that I missed.

There is not much to say at this time other than thank you again to all of you that helped in this process.

We will keep vigil until he is released and then will do whatever is needed to protect any possible future victims.

We have internet again now, so feel free to email or post comments. My email is: thefamilycircus8@gmail.com

To Tiffany and all that play the judge on Darell Gilyard I say "...HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN AMONG YOU,LET HIM BE THE FIRST TO THROW A STONE" John 8v7.Toni,you have been very consistent and I thank God for youLily

He has had many opportunities to get it right.... If the truth were told, there are many, many, many women who were affected by Gilyard's uncontrolled sexual addiction. It is sad that in the Church, were the sick are suppose to go, pomp and circumstance stopped this man from coming clean with his addiction and getting help before it was too late. Nevertheless, maybe God will use him in prison.

You know you have to be careful in being positive your motivation for posting this blog, is for all the right reasons. While I agree that any abuse, or violation against another human, especially perpetrated by a person of trust... you cannot use this to get vengence. Darrell Gilyard is a human, who is in need of forgiveness, and who the Lord died on the cross for. His sin, is the same as your sin and mine. We ALL need to repent and be forgiven. I believe the Lord would repremand Mr Gilyard,in love.. but I also believe God knows his heart, and ultimately he would want him restored. It would seem to me that because he was so wreckless in what he was doing he wanted to be caught, almost a cry for help. He's an articulate, intelligent man, yet what he did was so overt.Vengence is mine saith the Lord. You make sure in this process, or part of our body (the body of Christ) is out of sync, your intent and goal, is to have him brought back into fellowship, and a healthy relationship with God.I'll be praying for your healing. In Him. For in Christ ALL things are possible.Red

Darrell will be released in only two months from now, on 12/28/11. Hopefully, his downfall allowed him to cry out to the Lord and humble himself in forgiveness, so that he will never sin against God again. A just man falleth seven times and God will pick him back up.

Instead of focusing your attention on the weaknesses and sins of Darrell Gilyard I would suggest that you stop harbouring unforgiveness (which attracts demons, and keeps you bound to Gilyard) get on your knees, confess all your grief, anger, rage or whatever else you still hold against this man, cry it all out before Jesus let it all go and then let God have his way in your life. He is really none of your business today. You agitated for his conviction and have gloated enough over his destruction and this goes right against any biblical directive. You do not glorify God by behaving in this way for we all sin and fall short of God's glory. The devil knows our weaknesses and has won albeit temporarily with Darrell, but when he is released he and his family need the freedom to grow and develop in any way God chooses and it is totally unrighteousness of you to carry on your evil campaign against him. Your perpetual attacks are not God glorifying and also attack the rights and privileges of other people near to him and really this is absolutely evil. It is no good you saying "Oh but you havn't suffered what I have" for in fact, you cannot know what I have suffered. I will address any notion you may entertain that I have not experienced abuse is this:- I endured horrendous abuse at the hands of my darling daddy for eight long years of my life until he died, but I forgave him long before I committed my life to Christ Jesus. The Lord has given gifted us with our salvation, and the primary purpose of our Christian walk is to glorify Him. When I finally was forced to deal with those terrible experiences I resolved to find my healing through studying the Word and writing a book about apostasy throughout the Churches worldwide. The research and prayer I put into that effort set me free without the use of any drugs. The spiritual recipe is simple - get on your knees every time you have any recall about anything and confess it all to Jesus - each and every thought rage, anger, shame, etcetera, every experience and command every evil spirit to leave you in Jesus name. Otherwise you really are saying God isn't big enough to heal you. Every time you allow sinful memories of any unpleasant experience to rise above God's purpose for your life you give Satan and his minions a foothold. May the Lord bless you and I pray that Darrell Gilyard too will find a blessed peace and freedom following his release from prison.

TO Mark: "Can he become truly saved? Yes. IF, IF, there is true repentance but that would take a long time to know if it is real. And after that, he would STILL not be qualified to be an elder. An elder must be above reproach to the 'outside'."

Of course he has not lost salvation - Once saved always saved. A person is saved a soon as he believes in the gospel - the gospel is 1 Corinthians 15:12-4. At that moment he has entered into the Body of Christ Jesus - He in us and We in Him and as that is so we/he cannot fall in or fall out of Christ's body. A person cannot be saved one day and then fall out the next and then back again the next day. That is an absolutely absurd notion. THERE IS NO need for him to show "true repentance" as you put it. We are not saved by deeds of any sort (including what you call true repentance as opposed to false repentance) we are saved by our belief in the gospel as referred to above. We are saved by faith through God's grace plus nothing. I have met plenty of elders in my life and have yet to find ANY who are beyond reproach for you can always find something against anyone. There is no one free from sin except Jesus Christ for He alone is sin free and all we have, are sin-riddled bodies. We are saved by our belief in the Gospel not with the way we run our Christian lives. However, from the moment we are saved the salvation work begins in our lives and that continues until we meet with Him in glory. If you would like to avail yourself of some sound Christian teaching please visit Doctor Arnold G Fruchtenbaum's site where you will find some excellent manuscripts to download. (Ariel.org) Also his ministries, (although now worldwide) are so much more easily available for your personal attendance should you wish to do so. I live in Australia and have been studying with Doctor Arnold for the past 15 years now and also been greatly blessed by Gilyard's exemplary teachings during the time he was peaching from Shiloh.

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Scripture

Psalm 17:8-13 says, "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. (vs.13) Rise up oh Lord, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked with your sword."